Gimme some suggestions for shoes for my aching feet!

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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I know...I need to lose weight... I am trying. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what kind of shoes you all wear to keep comfortable. I've use skechers, new balance, nike, all the popular ones, but my right heel is aching like crazy. Not my toes, not the flat part of my foot, but my heel. And it's worse if I sit for a few minutes then get up and walk. YIKKKEESSS the pain! After walking (hobbling) a few minutes, I'm OK. I had an xray done, no heel spur found. I guess it could be plantar fascitis but it's only on the heel. Feels like I'm stepping on a rock. Ibuprofen doesn't help (that's odd) but plain tylenol does so I pop that 3 times a day.

Can't afford not to walk/work so any suggestions for good shoes??

I also suffer from plantar fasciitis (and need to lose more weight). The one shoe that relieved my pain and the only shoe I can be in for long periods on my feet is the dansko clog. The come with and without closed backs. I found out about them upon visiting a pedorthotist, which is a guy who specializes in fitting shoes. He explained that I needed the stiffness but also absorption. The clogs have a dense rubber bottom without much give. Anyway, you can get them cheaper at the outlet: http://www.danskooutlet.com

I rarely have problems with my Reeboks. I have a hard enough time finding size 4 1/2's :p
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Crocs are AMAZING! But avoid the vented type for the hospital - any questions why, see the "grossest story" posting.

Also, a more expensive choice, but one also worth the investment is a pair of Danskos. They run about $100 a pair, but will last forever.

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THORLO SOCKS!!!!

Put those on before anything else! They are expensive, I know - but I've had several of my pair for 4 years - and my feet thank me everyday. Worth the investment and you can shop around online or sales. They are the best sock around and make almost any kind of shoe feel better -

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Crocs

They are so light & cushiony, just wonderful. I love my pair. Just found them for only $30 at a bike shop. I'll never wear any other shoes to work again.

http://www.crocs.com/consumer/product/footwear/

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I wear Ryka tennis shoes. They are specifically designed for the female foot. I love them. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever had. Lady Footlocker sells them.

I just bought some Danscos and work pretty well if I can sit down once in awhile. But when there days where you don't get to sit at all, they do start hurting. So I thought of trying what you have mentioned. Someone on the board suggested it is a good idea to get 2 pairs of shoes and change off.

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I had trouble with heel spurs - similar symptoms. I paid a couple hundred $$ for custom orthotics. Helped me. No more problems. My dh did too, but had better luck with Z-coil shoes (zcoil.com) Crazy looking, but just the ticket for many health care workers in this area.

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The only shoes I put on my feet for work are New Balance. My feet thank me every 12 hour shift that runs in to 13...and then 14 hours!

:balloons: :balloons: Jaime

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
I had trouble with heel spurs - similar symptoms. I paid a couple hundred $$ for custom orthotics. Helped me. No more problems. My dh did too, but had better luck with Z-coil shoes (zcoil.com) Crazy looking, but just the ticket for many health care workers in this area.

Silly question, but what does "dh" mean?

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I wear Avia walking shoes, and they're great. :)

As long as the shoe doesn't rub your foot anywhere, and is still snug, you shouldn't have a problem.

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Specializes in NICU.
Silly question, but what does "dh" mean?

Dear Husband :).

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I've tried numerous shoes and happened to try Easy Spirit (inside label says ES Jumper) and really like them. My feet just don't hurt anymore!

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

People seem to be split on the question of cushiony vs. support. I was in favor of cushiony shoes until nursing school. The $25 walmart shoes are not a bad combination of cushy and support, but they don't last very long either. Or, the outside lasts longer than the benefits to your feet.

I finally got dansko's. White are around $70ish and oh my god do they scuff. I'm not helping matters either when I use the germicidal wipes on them. Well, they are clean but look a lot more worn than they are. Looks aside, they feel hard as a rock when you put 'em on, there's a serious arch in there, but they don't leave me crying at the end of a 12 hour shift so that works. It took me a couple of days to break mine in. They have two basic styles: clog and mule with a back strap. My white ones are mules; my non-work ones are clogs. Your heel is supposed to come up out of the back when you walk, and it doesn't rub, and you can run in them if need be, but do NOT walk sideways, I turn my ankle if I do that. I like the clogs better and they run about $100. I don't plan on buying shoes for a while. :)

There's one other thing that works for me. After 2 or 3 days on the floor, I do have achy feet, good shoes or not. I put an ice pack (the one that looks like blue gel in a bag) in the pillowcase of a nice cushy pillow, stick the pillow on my footstool, and ice my feet when I get home. Ahh, heaven. It's even better if I can get a footrub after about 20 mins. of ice.

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